Just 31% of UK biofuel suppliers meet sustainability standards

Research by the Renewable Fuels Agency (RFO) report attacks BP, Chevron, Murco, Total, INEOS and Morgan for all missing three sustainability performance targets set as part of the UK’s Renewable Transport Fuel Obligation (RTFO).

One of the worst performers identified in the report was Murco, which failed to report any fuel meeting the RTFO’s Environmental Qualifying Standard.

The report released this week covers the second year of the Renewable Transport Fuel Obligation (RTFO).

According to the RFA, one of a swathe of Government funded bodies to lose financial backing last year, the report shows industry as a whole is ‘not keeping up’ with targets designed to encourage more sustainable biofuels.

The RFA’s chief executive, Nick Goodall, said, “We’ve seen some progress from suppliers in meeting the challenge of sourcing their biofuels responsibly, but in many cases it has been disappointingly slow.

“Too many are lagging behind and dragging overall performance down. With mandatory sustainability criteria due to be introduced with the Renewable Energy Directive (RED), companies currently missing all three targets need to make a step change in performance.”

Despite the poor performance by many, the report also identifies suppliers who are demonstrating what can be achieved.

Greenergy and Shell undertook independent sustainability audits of Brazilian sugar cane with Shell also carrying out independent audits of German oilseed rape.

Lissan and Topaz supplied all of their fuel from wastes and by-products. There are also many companies supplying only biofuels and meeting all three sustainability targets – this includes all companies supplying solely biodiesel from used cooking oil or tallow.

Luke Walsh